Mississippi State will head to the Palmetto State for a pivotal matchup with South Carolina at 5 p.m. that has plenty of NCAA Tournament ramifications.

The Bulldogs are fighting for the right to go dancing as well as to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division outright. MSU is currently leading the West with an 8-5 mark in league play and are 20-8 overall.

The Gamecock's Colonial Life Center is the only road venue in the SEC where State holds a winning record at 5-4. The Bulldogs also hold the series lead over South Carolina 13-8 having won three straight.

MSU defeated the Gamecocks 75-70 in Starkville last season and also knocked them out of the SEC Tournament with a 82-68 win in Tampa.

Mississippi State enters today's game shooting 43.3-percent from the field and averaging 72.9 points per game. The Bulldogs make a conference-best 9.04 3-pointers a game and are shooting 35.9-percent behind the arc. They also continue to lead the SEC in most defensive categories including scoring defense (63.2), field goal percentage defense (37.4%), blocked shots (8.11), defensive rebounds (29.25) and defensive rebounding percentage (69.9%).